Nets sold (almost) to NY group, will move to Brooklyn

[jamison]

Word is that the bankers working the deal for the team have agreed (thought it's not complete yet) to sell the NJ Nets to a NY Developer (http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/155157p-136360c.html) who will move the team to Brooklyn

They have a spot selected over the LIRR at Flatbush and Atlantic aves., plus a Frank Gehry designed building holding 19,000 for basketball and 20k for other events. Jay-Z would be a partner in the deal (because all solid financing deals include rappers nowadays).

[Khansingh]

The Brooklyn Nets? Isn't Flatbush and Atlantic roughly where Ebbets Field stood? I don't have an opinion on this except that it probably means that the Devils are out of here. With only one team instead of two, a new arena won't seem as imperative. How do you like the sound of the San Diego Diablos?

[_chachi]

Originally posted by Khansingh
Isn't Flatbush and Atlantic roughly where Ebbets Field stood?

no. that's where o'malley wanted to build a new stadium for the dodgers, but the city refused and the rest is history.

[Khansingh]

I'm not trying to start an argument with you but the notion that the Dodgers needed a new stadium is ridiculous. Ebbets Field wasn't old by the day's standards and the stadium he wanted to build would've started the circular, multipurpose stadium trend ten years earlier.

[MHaifa1913]

Whatever keeps Jon Corzine and Charlie Kushner away from the Nets is fine with me.

[_chachi]

Originally posted by Khansingh
I'm not trying to start an argument with you but the notion that the Dodgers needed a new stadium is ridiculous. Ebbets Field wasn't old by the day's standards and the stadium he wanted to build would've started the circular, multipurpose stadium trend ten years earlier.

since when do sports team owners want what they need? they want what they can get. check this for info. (http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/EbbetsField.htm)

[skipshady]

Prospects Heights residents aren't exactly thrilled about this: http://www.prfamerica.org/BrooklynNeighborhoodThreatened.html

[microbrew]

A Frank Gehry designed complex.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/21/sports/basketball/21ARAT.html

[jamison]

I'm in favor of any stadium that lets people walk on the roof.

[microbrew]

Gritty details:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/22/sports/basketball/22NETS.html

And there's another half dozen or so articles about the sale, just at the NY Times alone.

And that Gehry stadium design looks pretty cool, if a bit too shiny.

[Frieslander]

The NJ Nets (and Devils) have proven that it takes longer than 1 generation to grow a fanbase in an area that already has a team with a large fanbase. They finally have the NJ kids wearing Nets shirts (the adults are still Knick fans) and now they want to start from scratch again. Brooklyn will get people going at the start but Knick fans are going to stay Knick fans.

I work with a couple of guys who are big Ranger fans. When the Devils moved in in '82 they bought season tickets. Once the arena lost it's new car smell they never went again (except to see the Rags). I can't see it being significantly better in Brooklyn.

[skipshady]

Since I've been living under a rock, apparently, whatever happened to the downtown Newark arena plan?

I heard some talk of it last year and I understand the plan is now dead. What happened in between?

[Matt in the Hat]

Originally posted by skipshady
Since I've been living under a rock, apparently, whatever happened to the downtown Newark arena plan?

I heard some talk of it last year and I understand the plan is now dead. What happened in between?

The bughet was about $20m more than YankeeNets and the governments had to give and no one wanted to pony up the rest. So it died. Pretty sad, I think. Newark would have been a great place for the Nets and a better place for the Devils.

[microbrew]

I've counted about seven different reporters covering this story from the NY Times.

Sale is official:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/24/sports/basketball/24SALE.html

Pictures of the arena:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/01/22/sports/20040122_NETS_PHOTOS_GRAPHIC.html

Site plans:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/01/22/sports/20040122_NETS_STADIUM_GRAPHIC.html